You Choose My Next Adventure Winner…

Thank you all for the votes on choosing my next adventure! And the winner is Yosemite! Now I don’t know where to begin on planning this thing! We’ve gone to local camping spots- nothing this big! I don’t even know where to begin! Probably need to get a reservation first. I have all my gear. Just need to pick a time and go, right?! I have some comments on how to go about it but I would appreciate any feedback! And I’m sure I’ll follow up with a blog on how to plan a trip to Yosemite 😉

Always take wet wipes and a towel. Wet wipes as they are the universal cleaning item and a towel because they can be used for so many different things: for drying, for carrying, make it into a scarf to swatting flies/people who annoy you, covering food, arm sling, for warmth, making a padded seat…the list goes on and on…Have a good trip.

Lucky you! I believe that reservations are a must, but I can’t sear to it. I’m sure that the Park Service have lots of info online. I like to “pre-scout” an area where I’m going on Google Earth as it gives me a better idea about the lay of the land than maps do. You’ll also find lots of photos that people have uploaded to Google Earth as well.

If I remember correctly, there was an outbreak of some sort of illness there, I think it was last year, and the park was closed for a time. Also while your checking can you also see if you can get some info on renting a cabin there, and let us know the web site? Thank you.

That was the Hantavirus last year, a deadly virus that came from mouse feces in some poorly constructed permanent canvas tent cabins. Yosemite closed those cabins (hopefully for good?), but if you bring your own tent you will be in the clear! The park can give you more information if you have any questions.

The funnest place to camp is Camp 4, but they don’t allow reservations; it’s first come first serve. But it also is where all of the climbers stay, and they come from all over the world. The chillest places to camp are the campgrounds in Tuolomne Meadows. It has a totally different feel than Yosemite Valley. I HIGHLY recommend hooking up with a climbing guide and or some climbers while you’re there. Being on the walls of the valley as opposed to the ground is an unforgettable experience. There are climbs for every skill level, don’t be intimidated! Most of all, don’t mess with the bears. 🙂

I loved, LOVED Yosemite! We were only there for five days, but could have easily spent more than a week there. Make sure you get a reservation to hike to the top of Half Dome. Check out some books from the library on Yosemite. They are filled with tons of great info on where to stay/camp and what to see and do. I found them an invaluable resource. What an exciting adventure! You may have mentioned this already in another post, but when are you planning on going?

Great choice! Yosemite is about my favorite place on the planet. If you go in the summer, you will have trouble getting camp reservations in the Valley. Spring and Fall weekends, you will have issues as well, especially in May and September. If you are backcountry camping, you have to get a permit (there is a link to the number of available permits on the NPS website), but that permit also gets you a reserved spot in the backpackers camp for the days before and after your backcountry permit.

All of Yosemite is rugged, but the Toulumne Meadows area is a little less so than the southern part of the Park. The two must-sees (other than the Yosemite Valley) are Glacier Point (the road closes in Oct or so) and Half Dome (from on top). Permits for Half Dome are very hard to get, but if you are backpacking, and your trail takes you close to the Dome (Little Yosemite Valley), then you can add Half Dome to your backcountry permit for $5.

I love Yosemite! Great choice! I went last summer with my boyfriend’s family- we stayed in the tent cabins and it was a blast! Just a heads up- bring your own food! The stores in the valley can get pricey and there are always bear lockers to store stuff in. Also, you can apply for a half-dome pass in an online lottery a couple days before the day you want to go.. That’s what we did and it worked out great! We might have just gotten lucky, but if you don’t make reservations for the hike beforehand this is another option. Have fun!!

I agre with everyone on the permits and wet wipes (and scat shovel) Also, pay close attention to your arrival time. Sometimes it’s best to spend your first day camping near utilities before heading out into the back country. Your water will go farther this way. I’ve never done Yosemite, but have done Big Bend and Guadalupe in TX. Have a great trip!!!